This Ficus Bonsai tree is reported to be over a thousand years old; the oldest Bonsai tree in the world. It is the main tree on display at the Italian Bonsai Museum “Crespi”.

It was purchased and shipped to Italy in 1986 by Luigi Crespi, (an Italian painter, art merchant, and historian) who exhibited the tree at the Euroflora Fair in Genova where it received the Fair’s prestigious “Honour Prize”, given by a jury of international experts.

The tree has been styled by many generations of Chinese masters, then by Japanese master Shotaro Kawahara. It is now cared for by Luigi Crespi and Alberto Lavazza.

Old Juniper Bonsai tree at Mansei-en, Japan (over 1000 years old)

Photo by Morten Albek

This juniper is tested to be more than 1000 years old, collected in the wild in Japan. Its current home is at Mansei-en Bonsai nursery of the Kato family in Omiya, Japan.

800-Year-old tree, at Shunka-en, by Kunio Kobayashi

An 800 year-old Bonsai tree also at Shunkaen

Shunkaen Bonsai Garden

A remarkable tree which is well known for its extremely high age; the tree is reported to be over 800 years old, one of the most expensive Bonsai trees! Its owner, master Kobayashi, is one of the most well known Bonsai artists in the world and has won the prestigious Prime Minister Award in Japan 4 times.

The Japanese White Pine that survived Hiroshima

Picture National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington.

This tree has been trained into a Bonsai for almost 400 years, the result of 6 generations of hard work and patience by the Yamaki family.

Closer to home in Australia, the oldest is around 62-years. Donated by a pioneer of bonsai in Australia, 84-year-old Dorothy Koreshoff, who imported them from Japan as seeds with her husband Vita in 1951. ”They’re the oldest black pines in Australia, I can assure you,” you can read Mrs Koreshoff’s story here. Or visit National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia.

If you know of any older existing Bonsai get in contact, we’d love to hear from you.